Excel should allow mirroring of multiple cells

I don't think this function is yet in Excel. If it is, I don't know what
it's called or where to find it.

The suggestion is simple: create a way to link two or more cells together
so that data input into any one of the linked cells shows in all the others
AND the data can be changed from ANY of the cells, with the changed data
reflecting in all the others. This would be very similar to placing an equal
sign and cell number (i.e. "=A4") in one cell to pull in data from the named
cell number. However, using a simple formula like this to link cells is only
one-way. I am looking to make it two-way, linking the cells without using a
formula so that either cell can be changed and the change reflect in the
other.

Example of use would be where you have multiple tabs in a workbook and want
to be able to input changes of key data from any of the tabs. Something like
this can already be done in Access. It would be nice to be able to do it in
Excel also.

----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.

http://www.microsoft.com/office/comm...el.programming

=concatenate(a1,b1,c1) Should work.
--
Pete


"Doyle_D" wrote:

> I don't think this function is yet in Excel. If it is, I don't know what
> it's called or where to find it.
>
> The suggestion is simple: create a way to link two or more cells together
> so that data input into any one of the linked cells shows in all the others
> AND the data can be changed from ANY of the cells, with the changed data
> reflecting in all the others. This would be very similar to placing an equal
> sign and cell number (i.e. "=A4") in one cell to pull in data from the named
> cell number. However, using a simple formula like this to link cells is only
> one-way. I am looking to make it two-way, linking the cells without using a
> formula so that either cell can be changed and the change reflect in the
> other.
>
> Example of use would be where you have multiple tabs in a workbook and want
> to be able to input changes of key data from any of the tabs. Something like
> this can already be done in Access. It would be nice to be able to do it in
> Excel also.
>
> ----------------
> This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
> suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
> Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
> link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
> click "I Agree" in the message pane.
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/office/comm...el.programming

Not exactly. I am not looking to combine numerous cells' data.

I want to link the cells. For example, if I link cells A1 and D1, I would
be able to put a "12" in D1 and it would show up in A1. Then, I would be
able to change the "12" in A1 to a "4" in A1 and it would show up in D1. I
am talking about essentially linking two or more cells so that they behave as
though they are one cell.

If this were done with a formula, it would not work because when you started
typing data in the cell containing the formula, it would over-type and
destroy it....that is unless you can put your formula in one cell, but
designate the results of the formula to appear in another cell (without any
entry in that target cell).

Thank you.


--
Doyle_D


"Pete" wrote:

> =concatenate(a1,b1,c1) Should work.
> --
> Pete
>
>
> "Doyle_D" wrote:
>
> > I don't think this function is yet in Excel. If it is, I don't know what
> > it's called or where to find it.
> >
> > The suggestion is simple: create a way to link two or more cells together
> > so that data input into any one of the linked cells shows in all the others
> > AND the data can be changed from ANY of the cells, with the changed data
> > reflecting in all the others. This would be very similar to placing an equal
> > sign and cell number (i.e. "=A4") in one cell to pull in data from the named
> > cell number. However, using a simple formula like this to link cells is only
> > one-way. I am looking to make it two-way, linking the cells without using a
> > formula so that either cell can be changed and the change reflect in the
> > other.
> >
> > Example of use would be where you have multiple tabs in a workbook and want
> > to be able to input changes of key data from any of the tabs. Something like
> > this can already be done in Access. It would be nice to be able to do it in
> > Excel also.
> >
> > ----------------
> > This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
> > suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
> > Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
> > link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
> > click "I Agree" in the message pane.
> >
> > http://www.microsoft.com/office/comm...el.programming

Let me put it another way. I want to be able to merge cells that are not
adjacent to one another....not necessarily on the same tab, or not even
necessarily on the same spreadsheet for that matter. Can it be done?
--
Doyle_D


"Doyle_D" wrote:

> Not exactly. I am not looking to combine numerous cells' data.
>
> I want to link the cells. For example, if I link cells A1 and D1, I would
> be able to put a "12" in D1 and it would show up in A1. Then, I would be
> able to change the "12" in A1 to a "4" in A1 and it would show up in D1. I
> am talking about essentially linking two or more cells so that they behave as
> though they are one cell.
>
> If this were done with a formula, it would not work because when you started
> typing data in the cell containing the formula, it would over-type and
> destroy it....that is unless you can put your formula in one cell, but
> designate the results of the formula to appear in another cell (without any
> entry in that target cell).
>
> Thank you.
>
>
> --
> Doyle_D
>
>
> "Pete" wrote:
>
> > =concatenate(a1,b1,c1) Should work.
> > --
> > Pete
> >
> >
> > "Doyle_D" wrote:
> >
> > > I don't think this function is yet in Excel. If it is, I don't know what
> > > it's called or where to find it.
> > >
> > > The suggestion is simple: create a way to link two or more cells together
> > > so that data input into any one of the linked cells shows in all the others
> > > AND the data can be changed from ANY of the cells, with the changed data
> > > reflecting in all the others. This would be very similar to placing an equal
> > > sign and cell number (i.e. "=A4") in one cell to pull in data from the named
> > > cell number. However, using a simple formula like this to link cells is only
> > > one-way. I am looking to make it two-way, linking the cells without using a
> > > formula so that either cell can be changed and the change reflect in the
> > > other.
> > >
> > > Example of use would be where you have multiple tabs in a workbook and want
> > > to be able to input changes of key data from any of the tabs. Something like
> > > this can already be done in Access. It would be nice to be able to do it in
> > > Excel also.
> > >
> > > ----------------
> > > This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
> > > suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
> > > Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
> > > link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
> > > click "I Agree" in the message pane.
> > >
> > > http://www.microsoft.com/office/comm...el.programming

Doyle_D shared this with us in microsoft.public.excel.programming:

> Let me put it another way. I want to be able to merge cells that are
> not adjacent to one another....not necessarily on the same tab, or
> not even necessarily on the same spreadsheet for that matter. Can it
> be done?

I understand exactly what you mean.
Your question clearly demonstrates a misinterpretation of the
fundamental concepts of both a database (Access) and a spreadsheet
(Excel).

You think you see cells with values in Access. This is not true. What
you really see, is the result of a query. A query is a representation
of (a part of) the internal database. You (almost) never see the
database itself.

Think of a big cardboard box. Access is a big box with data inside, and
what you see (using a query) is what you can see through a hole in the
box. Different shapes, sizes and positions of holes give you different
views of what is essentially the same data.
You can also use the holes to put new data in. If you simultaneously
look through another hole, it may /appear/ that the data is also
inserted there, but that is not true. You see what has happened
elsewhere, just from another angle.

Now comes Excel. This is not one big box, but thousands and thousands
of small boxen (worksheet cells) all stacked together. If you change
one cell, you put something in one box. It's only in that little box
and not in another box.


I hope this metaphore clears up some misunderstandings.


What you need/want, is an access database backend (the big box) with
queries (holes in the box) and an excel worksheet frontend (reach
inside the big box through the hole and put it in a small box)

--
Amedee Van Gasse using XanaNews 1.17.4.1
If it has an "X" in the name, it must be Linux?

Thank you for the explanation. It does help me visualize the spreadsheet vs.
database concepts a bit better. Your suggestion to have an Excel front end
and a Access back end would probably do the trick, but that is a bit too
complex for your average user of Excel. Certainly, it would take me a while
to figure out how to set that up. I was looking for something that would be
as simple as merging cells--just made it so that the cells don't have to be
adjacent.

Maybe I have misunderstood something. I thought that I was making a
suggestion to the developers of Excel to add a feature to the product or to
show me where they already have if it is already in there. From your
explanations, I gather that such a function is not available at this time in
Excel without rigging a workaround using Access.

So, my question now is.... How do I go about suggesting this to the
developers if not through this forum? I was directed here to this forum via
the product suggestions link in "Help" within Excel. Is there any way to
email the Microsoft developers or other way to make a suggestion? That's
what I thought I was doing here.
--
Doyle_D


"Amedee Van Gasse" wrote:

> Doyle_D shared this with us in microsoft.public.excel.programming:
>
> > Let me put it another way. I want to be able to merge cells that are
> > not adjacent to one another....not necessarily on the same tab, or
> > not even necessarily on the same spreadsheet for that matter. Can it
> > be done?
>
> I understand exactly what you mean.
> Your question clearly demonstrates a misinterpretation of the
> fundamental concepts of both a database (Access) and a spreadsheet
> (Excel).
>
> You think you see cells with values in Access. This is not true. What
> you really see, is the result of a query. A query is a representation
> of (a part of) the internal database. You (almost) never see the
> database itself.
>
> Think of a big cardboard box. Access is a big box with data inside, and
> what you see (using a query) is what you can see through a hole in the
> box. Different shapes, sizes and positions of holes give you different
> views of what is essentially the same data.
> You can also use the holes to put new data in. If you simultaneously
> look through another hole, it may /appear/ that the data is also
> inserted there, but that is not true. You see what has happened
> elsewhere, just from another angle.
>
> Now comes Excel. This is not one big box, but thousands and thousands
> of small boxen (worksheet cells) all stacked together. If you change
> one cell, you put something in one box. It's only in that little box
> and not in another box.
>
>
> I hope this metaphore clears up some misunderstandings.
>
>
> What you need/want, is an access database backend (the big box) with
> queries (holes in the box) and an excel worksheet frontend (reach
> inside the big box through the hole and put it in a small box)
>
> --
> Amedee Van Gasse using XanaNews 1.17.4.1
> If it has an "X" in the name, it must be Linux?
>

Doyle_D shared this with us in microsoft.public.excel.programming:

> I don't think this function is yet in Excel. If it is, I don't know
> what it's called or where to find it.
>
> The suggestion is simple: create a way to link two or more cells
> together so that data input into any one of the linked cells shows in
> all the others AND the data can be changed from ANY of the cells,
> with the changed data reflecting in all the others. This would be
> very similar to placing an equal sign and cell number (i.e. "=A4") in
> one cell to pull in data from the named cell number. However, using
> a simple formula like this to link cells is only one-way. I am
> looking to make it two-way, linking the cells without using a formula
> so that either cell can be changed and the change reflect in the
> other.

I think there are already some ways to implement this.
How about a worksheet event that is triggered when a certain range is
changed, which changes every value in the predefined range.

> Example of use would be where you have multiple tabs in a workbook
> and want to be able to input changes of key data from any of the
> tabs. Something like this can already be done in Access. It would
> be nice to be able to do it in Excel also.

A better solution would be to use Access as a backend database and
Excel as a frontend application.

> ----------------
> This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to
> the suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion,
> click the "I Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the
> button, follow this link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft
> Web-based Newsreader and then click "I Agree" in the message pane.
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/office/comm...mspx?mid=5b047
> 3ad-da51-4ce1-b054-9cb5deb96733&dg=microsoft.public.excel.programming

This is what I call Usenet pollution...

--
Amedee Van Gasse using XanaNews 1.17.4.1
If it has an "X" in the name, it must be Linux?

,What you want is a VBA code that on the change of any of the specified cells
, writes that change into all of the group of targeted cells.

thisworkbook > Workbook_SheetChange event
point it only at the cells on that page that you want to moniter
save value to variable
then write the variable to the group of target cells

this vba snippit would need to be added to all "monitered" sheets

give more specifics and I will work it up

"Amedee Van Gasse" wrote:

> Doyle_D shared this with us in microsoft.public.excel.programming:
>
> > I don't think this function is yet in Excel. If it is, I don't know
> > what it's called or where to find it.
> >
> > The suggestion is simple: create a way to link two or more cells
> > together so that data input into any one of the linked cells shows in
> > all the others AND the data can be changed from ANY of the cells,
> > with the changed data reflecting in all the others. This would be
> > very similar to placing an equal sign and cell number (i.e. "=A4") in
> > one cell to pull in data from the named cell number. However, using
> > a simple formula like this to link cells is only one-way. I am
> > looking to make it two-way, linking the cells without using a formula
> > so that either cell can be changed and the change reflect in the
> > other.
>
> I think there are already some ways to implement this.
> How about a worksheet event that is triggered when a certain range is
> changed, which changes every value in the predefined range.
>
> > Example of use would be where you have multiple tabs in a workbook
> > and want to be able to input changes of key data from any of the
> > tabs. Something like this can already be done in Access. It would
> > be nice to be able to do it in Excel also.
>
> A better solution would be to use Access as a backend database and
> Excel as a frontend application.
>
> > ----------------
> > This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to
> > the suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion,
> > click the "I Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the
> > button, follow this link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft
> > Web-based Newsreader and then click "I Agree" in the message pane.
> >
> > http://www.microsoft.com/office/comm...mspx?mid=5b047
> > 3ad-da51-4ce1-b054-9cb5deb96733&dg=microsoft.public.excel.programming
>
> This is what I call Usenet pollution...
>
> --
> Amedee Van Gasse using XanaNews 1.17.4.1
> If it has an "X" in the name, it must be Linux?
>